I take a deep breath, exhaling before leading Phoenix through the doors that are now open. Eternity seems to stretch on between every step I take, and my mind races with the knowledge that I very well could be just moments from my death. With a quick glance down to Phoenix, I see the black cat staring down Bryant, eyes never wavering and head held high.

The ring of dust binding Phoenix glows a brighter purple and the snake's presence in my mind grows as we approach the Amethyst Throne, stopping a few paces from the foot of it. Smoke curls from my eyes as the snake responds to the closeness of its creator. I fight back the urge to reach out and touch the Amethyst Throne when the air thrums with power.

"Is this a present for me? Aww, that's so thoughtful of you, Dust Devil." Bryant threads his fingers together and his amethyst eyes brighten with the glee of a child who just got a birthday gift.

"Uh, y-," I close my mouth and take a quick breath before replying. "Yes, yes it is, My Sovereign, Your Excellency, Your Honor, Your Highest of all Highnesses, King Garonda XIV." I bow and then drop to my knees, falling further into the actions I'd been trained to do for so long. My forehead brushes the ground and I turn my head to the side to bare my throat.

"You forget we're equals, Dust Devil? Don't do that. It's weird. You've harnessed the power of the Amethyst Throne. We're equals. Get up and lemme see my present."

"Of course. Uh, this is Phoenix."

"Ky's brother?"

"Don't say his name. You don't get the privilege to say his name. You murdered him. You don't get to speak of my brother." Phoenix explodes into a fiery inferno. The temperature in the room skyrockets and I feel my armor growing warm. I shield my eyes from the bright flames with a hand.

"Arrogant for someone who's about to die, deciding who the King of Ragdon can talk about," Bryant chuckles. No, don't talk about death. If it's anyone, it's me. You haven't found out about my traitorous actions... yet. But I know you will. It's only a matter of time. I keep my expression neutral, but fear and guilt gnaw gaping wounds on my insides.

"Arrogant, huh? Is that what they're calling it these days? See, I'm just having a hard time wrapping my mind around just how I'm being this arrogant being you're saying I am. Care to elaborate, dearest King," Phoenix says with mock respect. His muzzle wrinkles in disgust.

"Shall we start with how you're speaking without being spoken to?" Bryant's eyes flash.

"Oh, I'm sorry. See, I thought your name was Bryant. I hadn't realized you were a King." Phoenix's voice is a sickly sweet purr. At the mention of his name, Bryant's head snaps toward me.

"Refer to your King as King Garonda XIV." My fingers curl and the ring of dust around Phoenix's neck tightens in a warning. The flames on Phoenix's pelt flicker, but I can tell it's just for show.

"How did you come up with this name... 'Bryant', arrogant little cat?" Bryant places an elbow on the armrest of the Throne and rests his chin on his knuckles. Amethyst eyes are narrowed as he ponders something I cannot figure out. How did he figure out Bryant's real name? Did I tell him? If I did, it would be even more of a betrayal. My heart sinks through my toes at the thought.

"Yeah, I'll pass on calling you that. And it certainly doesn't matter where I found out about Bryant. You've got bigger things to worry about." Slowly, bit by bit, the bindings I'd placed on Phoenix begin to crumble, and it's like he's not putting in any effort to do so. He was letting them remain? In an effort to keep up the mask of the Dust Devil and the Soldier, I sweep my arms up and bring dust into a tornado around me. Phoenix doesn't blink or even spare a glance my way. The snake hisses in my mind, baring its fangs. I shove it back.

"Do you know how long I've waited for this moment?"

"Big words, arrogant little cat."

"I'm not arrogant," Phoenix purrs, though it's clear his mind is elsewhere from the distant, smug look in his eye. He adds on, saying, "Ky, we're gonna win. We're gonna win, Ky. Just wait and see. Our revenge is here. Can't you taste it?"

A few moments later, the bindings restraining Phoenix fizzle away in a cloud of smoke. With a smirk, the black cat stalks forward. Bryant's eyebrows furrow and red flares in his eyes. The Amethyst Throne darkens, and the ground rumbles. Marble shakes, quivering, and I know it's on the verge of cracking.

"Dust Devil?" Bryant's voice is low, waiting. He doesn't look at me, keeping his gaze locked with Phoenix in a battle to see who will yield 1st. I know it's not going to be Phoenix.

But as soon as I realize what Bryant's asking me to do, my heart seems to freeze. My breath catches in my throat, and I'm temporarily paralyzed. I don't want to hurt Phoenix and I don't want to follow orders from Bryant, but I'm terrified of what's going to happen when he learns I no longer wish to follow him.

"Dust Devil?" Bryant's voice is sharper now. The 2nd time he's spoken.

Time slows, and all I can think of is Bryant's expectant expression and the bite to his words. A King never repeats himself; you do what he says the 1st time he says it.

When the snake presses forward, lured from its hiding spot by the steady thrum of the Amethyst Throne, I fight back. Bryant turns his gaze toward me, and Phoenix snickers at the fight he just won. Barely-concealed rage burns in his purple eyes. The streaks of red in them glow. The buzz of energy from the Amethyst Throne grows stronger, and cracks begin to splinter across the marble floor. I pushed back the snake once. I can do it again. Chains glint as the snake heeds the call of the Throne and slithers forward, but I refuse to give in; I have the blood of those the snake killed using my body on my hands, people I didn't want dead. It bares its fangs and strains to take over. I can't let that happen.

But unlike last time, it's the snake who makes progress. How? I was able to force it back last time. A few moments pass by, and I'm completely in my mind, zoned out from the chaos rumbling around me. It's like a punch to the gut. My focus slips for a split second as horror snaps shut around me. The snake seizes control and amethyst glows briefly around my eyes. Locked away in the back of my mind, I run my hands through my hair. I can't hear anything over the ringing in my ears. The snake let me push it back? Some cruel joke to make me think I'd won, only to rip it away later? My heart sinks. I pause, letting the thought swirl in my head, until my lip curls. You might have control over my body, but I will refuse to make it easy. The snake moves my body's hands, and dust howls around me. Phoenix turns around and snorts. "Really? Too weak to fight your own battles? You need to take control over someone else so they can fight your battles?" Phoenix snickers before adding on, "Loser."

"What did you call my King?" I speak, but it's not my voice. The snake seethes with anger, trembling and foaming at the mouth to destroy the black cat.

"Yeah, ya see that? That right there. Why the hell are you using whatever you did to him to fight your battles? Too cowardly?" Phoenix is smug.

"The King is not cowardly," the snake snarls. "The King does not wish to fight unnecessarily. It would be a waste of time for him to deal with you, arrogant little cat. It is my greatest honor to do this for him."

"Oh my god. My ears are bleeding."

"Shut it, cat."

"It's Phoenix, but ok. What the hell did you to to him?"

"Hm?" Bryant looks over at my body, the 1 the snake is controlling. It's waiting to hear what Bryant says before making a move to kill Phoenix. If it can, I think, earning a hiss from the snake in my mind.

"It would seem the Amethyst Throne has taken over the Dust Devil's mind."

"What the hell? That's messed up. But I'd expect nothing less from you."

"Dust Devil," is all Bryant says, voice a murmur. The snake immediately closes my body's fingers into fists, and a wall of shimmering black and purple dust slams into Phoenix's side. The black cat tumbles backward but quickly regains his footing. His lips pull back into a snarl as flames explode all around him. Without missing a beat, he races towards my body as marble shatters throughout the throne room. Several huge chunks hold the double doors shut, sealing us in and keeping the Guard and Soldiers that try to break through locked out. I slam my fists against the barrier as flames and dust whirl around my body. Curse you, snake. Why do you have to do this to me? Why'd you have to invade my mind and use my body to kill those Guard and Soldiers?

The snake doesn't reply. The only indication it gives that it even heard me is the sickening twinkle in its eye. My heart clenches in my chest, and I glare at the snake. Come on, Luke. You can get yourself out of this. You figured out how to deal with your ankle when the doctors refused to listen to you, and then you figured out how to never see a doctor again. You can free yourself from the snake. You can do it, Luke.

You're not winning, snake. I won't let you.

Happy holidays! I hope you are having a wonderful day celebrating whatever holiday you may celebrate, whether you're with family or on your own!

So the snake let Luke push it back that time before, and now it showed Luke that he never really was controlling it. Will Luke be able to do anything now?

Phoenix told Ky this is where they get their revenge. Is it?

Who's going to win: Phoenix or the Amethyst Throne through the snake that's controlling Luke's body and his powers?

What about Wolf and Brook and the others? They haven't shown up in a while. Hmm. I wonder what's going on with them?

I hope you're all having an amazing holiday season despite these crazy times!

-Werewolf14-